Man critically injured in Edmonds condo fire

Smoke alarms more than 10 years old become unreliable and should be replaced

Apr 22, 2013

A man was critically injured in a condominium fire in Edmonds Sunday morning.

Neighbors called 9-1-1 around 8:15 a.m. to report smoke coming from the first-floor unit the man rents in the 7400 block of 212th St SW.

“There was light smoke coming from the unit when firefighters arrived and the man was still inside. Police officers and firefighters pulled the victim from the building,” said Leslie Hynes, public information officer for Snohomish County Fire District 1, which provides fire and emergency medical services in the city of Edmonds.

The 67-year-old man was transported by paramedics to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. His injuries appeared to be life-threatening.

Other residents in the two-story, five-unit building safely evacuated. Firefighters from Fire District 1 and Lynnwood had the fire under control within 10 minutes.

The fire was contained to the kitchen area, but there was heavy smoke damage throughout the unit. No other units were damaged.

Fire investigators could not determine the exact cause of the fire, but could not rule out smoking or combustible items placed too close to the stovetop.

Neighbors told firefighters they did not hear any alarms sounding during the fire. Firefighters located a smoke alarm in the unit, but the battery had been removed and alarm had been disconnected from the electrical system.

“Even with a relatively small fire like this one, smoke can spread quickly and silently. Smoke alarms can give you the warning you need to safely escape. That’s why it’s so important to make sure the smoke alarms in your home are working properly,” Hynes said.

Fire District 1 recommends testing smoke alarms monthly and replacing the batteries twice a year or right away if the alarm chirps to warn of a low battery.

Smoke alarms more than 10 years old become unreliable and should be replaced.

Fire District 1 is offering free smoke alarms and educational home safety assessments for residents it serves in the communities of unincorporated southwest Snohomish County, Brier, Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace and Woodway.

Funding for the program comes from a Vision 20/20 Grant awarded through the federal Assistance to Firefighter Grant program.

The grant provides resources for Fire District 1 to perform home safety surveys and install more than 550 smoke alarms, including 50 for hearing-impaired residents.

The free home safety assessments will include a brief survey, testing and installation of smoke alarms, identifying potential fire hazards, education on how to prevent a fire and assistance in creating a home fire escape plan. The assessments are conducted by Fire District 1 employees and take about 30 minutes.

Residents of the Fire District 1 service area can schedule a free home safety assessment and smoke alarm installation online at www.firedistrict1.org; by emailing PublicEducators@firedistrict1.org.